Paul Morgan Observatory

The Paul Morgan Observatory (PMO) is designed to provide onsite and online viewings of the sun and night sky. The observatory will also serve to provide outreach to schools and other groups via the Internet and onsite tours. New Winter public nights at PMO will begin December 13, 2018. If skies are cloudy a short lecture with slides and videos will be presented. Solar observing will start spring 2019. Watch for announcements.

Photograph above: Orion Nebula from PMO

Observatory 2018-19 Winter Programs

December 13, 2018 - Night of the Geminids

Come to see a lecture on meteor showers and if the night is clear watch the Geminid Meteor Shower, see a comet and more. Lecture and viewing from 8 to 9:30 p.m. PST. Limited parking by the Tower Building. Space also limited inside the observatory. Seating is first come, first seated. Please bring a warm coat or blanket due to cold winter nights.

January 20, 2019 - Total Lunar Eclipse

Come to see a lecture on eclipses and if the night is clear, watch the a total Lunar Eclipse and more. Lecture and viewing from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. PST. Limited parking by the Tower Building. Space also limited inside the observatory. Seating is first come, first seated. Please bring a warm coat or blanket due to cold winter nights.

February 11, 2019 - IAU Women and Girls in Astronomy

Come to see a lecture on Women in Astronomy and, if the night is clear, enjoy the nebula and star clusters of the winter sky and more. Lecture and viewing from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. PST. Limited parking by the Tower Building. Space also limited inside the observatory. Seating is first come, first seated. Please bring a warm coat or blanket due to cold winter nights.

March 9, 2019 - Goodbye to Winter Sky. Hello Spring.

Come to see a lecture on Charles Messier and his famous list and if the night is clear, enjoy the nebula and star clusters of the winter sky and more. Lecture and viewing from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. PST. Limited parking by the Tower Building. Space also limited inside the observatory. Seating is first come, first seated. Please bring a warm coat or blanket due to cold winter nights.

Visit the Observatory

School visits to the observatory, either online or on site will now be available as weather permits. Please email the observatory to arrange a visit for either day (solar) or night time observing. Schools that want to visit online should email for arrangements and a special link for either daytime (solar) or night time (night sky) observing.

The observatory is located near the Tower Building at UCC. Limited parking is available around the Tower Building. However, there is more parking down the hill from the observatory in front of the Technology Center. For more information, see map.

The observatory is handicap accessible and is designed for wheelchair viewing of the TV monitors. Images are seen in real-time in color on large screen TV monitors allowing for group presentations. Simultaneously, the presentations with images can be broadcast online.

Did you know?

UCC supports STEAM education in the community. In addition to the observatory, UCC also supports the Umpqua Valley STEAM Hub. Together, we have promoted events like the Solar System Walk, STEAM Extravaganza, and Observatory programs.

UCC offers degree programs in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (aka STEAM). You are invited to explore them, share them, and get started in these vital fields of study. In fact, please take a few moments to become familiar with these UCC programs.